Honeywell T87N1026 Large Dial Thermostat Review

The Honeywell T87N1026 low-voltage thermostat represents a quick and easy-to-implement climate control solution; one that is simple to learn and operate. Done very much in the style of the vintage Honeywell mercury thermostats that were prominent in so many homes during the 60s and 70s, this unit, with its significantly improved visibility and “feel-ability” is well-received by the disabled, who might not otherwise be able to well see a standard sized thermostat, much less be able to install one. This unit features a 21st century all electronic control mechanism, in a classic design case, that holds room temperature to within one or at most two degrees of the set point. Gone are the days of chronic temperature overshoot, where you’re at first too cold, then too hot.

Honeywell Large Dial Thermostat, T87N1026

Pros, Features, Benefits, and Advantages of this Honeywell Dial Thermostat

Mercury free. The old glass bulb switch that had a rather large drop of that toxic liquid metal has been eliminated; replaced with a solid state thermistor. This allows for a more rapid response by the furnace to changing household temperatures, and is safer for the environment.

Easy to read outer dial. Low-profile yet large display design.

Notched / detent dial, makes adjusting up or down Buy 2° intervals a snap, although more precise control is difficult to achieve due to these notches.

Fan / auto switch, that changes the furnace fan between either always on operation, or a mode in which runs only when actual heating or cooling is also operating.

Heat / cool / off slider control, for placing the climate control equipment in either in heating or cooling mode, or in no mode at all (completely off).

Big numbers and increments. High contrast, easy to read, large numbers on the four-inch diameter temperature adjustment dial, which are also raised so that they can be felt as well as seen. Can be set in the dark therefore.

Easy grip temperature setting knob. This knob is also serrated (notches around its outer edges), that supports easy grasping and turning it.

Advanced operation controls hidden inside. With recessed and hidden DIP switches, can be configured to control gas or electric, forced air, steam, or hot water heat. Will also operate heat pumps and central air conditioning systems.

Simple to hook up, with stay-tight screw terminals. See the photo below for an functioning installation example.

Includes a wall mounting plate. The Honeywell wall thermostat itself and its mating wall-mounting plate snap together, and can easily be separated, for quick access to the wiring and furnace type mode setting switches.

Requires no backup battery, as it remembers all settings through power failures via the built-in battery power stealing design. The included lithium metal batteries will likely outlive the thermostat device itself.

Affordable. At under fifty dollars, this thermostat is reasonably priced for how many different types of heating systems that it can actuate.

Tightly controlled temperature. Unlike the vintage Honeywell thermostat models, that featured a spring-like sensing element and a mercury switch attached to it, this modern thermostat regulates room temperature with all the precision of today’s state-of-the-art residential thermostats. Though it looks a lot like an old model Honeywell with just the added outer dial, it performs on par with today’s climate control expectations.

Quiet operation. We could hear no clicking as the unit activated and deactivated our air conditioner. If there is any noise at all, it’s virtually negligible.

Near instantaneous responsiveness. If the house is too hot, your central air will kick on in just a second or two after you set a cooler temperature on the dial. No waiting for minutes on end for heating or cooling to commence.

Low RFI. Minimal radio interference produced during furnace switching.

Wall plate simplifies installation. No direct wire connections are made to the control unit itself. Rather, all wiring is done on the wall mounting plate. Then, once you verify its correctness, you then snap the control unit onto the wall plate. Electrical connections are then established via the plug and socket, shown in the pictures.

Cycles per hour is adjustable. The number of on-off cycles per hour is adjustable and can be set to either 1, 3, 5, or 9 turn-ons.

Typical current handling capability. Switches up to one amp of furnace control current, which makes it plenty adequately sized for most residential climate control systems.

Easily cleaned. The plastic white case can be cleaned with a damp cloth.

More decorative front cover available. A decorative cover plate may special ordered.

Rear of the control unit for the Honeywell Large Dial Thermostat Picture of the installed Honeywell Large Dial Thermostat, T87N1026.

Disadvantages, Problems, Cons, and Limitations

Non programmable. Strictly manual. This unit cannot be programmed to change its heating or air conditioning settings in unattended fashion. Any desired adjustments must be made by the user, at the time that they’re desired to take effect.

No backlight. So the built-in thermometer cannot be read in a darkened room, although the tactile dial can be adjusted without light.

Dial too small for some vision impaired users. Though the dial features raised degree degrations, some blind users have reported that these little bumps are too small to be sensed accurately via touch. Would appreciate somewhat bigger numbers and markings.

No multi-stage climate control. Does not support multiple stage (auxiliary) heating and cooling systems. Maximum of one heating stage and one cooling stage.

Not line voltage compatible. Cannot directly control line voltage electric baseboard heaters; not without additional auxiliary equipment.

Relay switching, which can be noisy in very quiet surroundings, and prone to premature failure when employed in exceptionally humid rooms. With the advances in solid state power switching these days, an all-electronic switching mechanism in this product is preferred.

No auto heat-to-cool or cool-to-heat switching. Does not automatically switch over from heating to cooling operation and vice versa based on room temperature and outside conditions. Must be set by the user as desired.

No digital temperature display. The current temperature readout is a mechanical spring thermometer that is not protected by any sort of shield. So, the red indicator can be easily tampered with, and if pushed too far, its accuracy can be negatively impacted. So just keep the fingers away from this needle.

Wired mounting plate of the Honeywell Thermostat, model Picture of the Rear of the control unit for the Honeywell Large Dial Thermostat Picture of the installed Honeywell Large Dial Thermostat, T87N1026.

Our Rating

The T87N1026 accessible thermostat is a very basic, very reliable, very cost-effective thermostat, that is easy to operate for both fully functioning and moderately disabled users. We found the unit, done up in the traditional Honeywell dial thermostat style, simple to install and operate, and easy to find online, and at the various home improvement stores in our area. So, we’d rate this unit at 95 out of 100.

Where to Buy the Honeywell T87N1026 Large Dial Thermostat

Can be purchased at numerous places online. We’ve not seen this at our local Lowe’s or Home Depot outlets. However, it can be ordered via these and Radio Shack stores among others.